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1144865

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Workplace Pensions: Tax Allowances
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, with respect to the National Statistics data published in April, which estimated the total cost of pension tax relief in respect of registered pension schemes for the year ending 5 April 2018 at £36.3 billion including £4.3 billion in tax relief on employee contributions to occupational pension schemes, (1) what is the estimated figure of gross pension contributions on which this figure was based, and (2) what specific assumptions were made as to the rates of tax applicable in arriving at the figure of £4.3 billion; and whether these assumptions included that all employees making contributions to occupational schemes receive the full tax relief to which they are entitled, including those contributing to net pay pension schemes.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL17699
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">HMRC publishes estimates of the cost of pension tax relief which is available in table 6 of HM Revenue and Customs Personal Pension Statistics on Gov.uk. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><em> </em></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">These estimates were revised on 26<sup>th</sup> September 2019 as part of an overall update to HMRC’s Personal Pension and Pension Relief statistics. Estimates of the cost of tax relief on contributions are produced using the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for income, individual and employer contributions for members of pension schemes that use the net pay mechanism; and administrative data HMRC holds on relief at source administrative data matched to the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) - for income, individual and employer pension contributions for members of pension schemes that use the relief at source mechanism.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The cost of tax relief for all contributions made by individuals is approximately £6.3bn, broken down as the cost of relief on employee contributions to occupational schemes (£4.2bn), to personal pension schemes (£1.6bn), and self-employed contributions to pensions (£0.5bn). Occupational pensions here includes some master trust pension schemes which use the relief at source method. Personal pensions here includes workplace personal pension schemes (such as group personal pensions).</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">i) The £4.3bn figure referenced is the cost of pension tax relief relating to occupational pension schemes. Estimates of the cost of pension tax relief were revised on September 26<sup>th</sup> 2019 as part of an overall update to HMRC’s Personal Pensions and Pension Relief Statistics. The £4.3bn figure referenced has since been revised to £4.2bn. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">This £4.2bn figure of tax relief is derived from around £15.9bn of estimated “relievable” individual pension contributions to occupational pension schemes, (where “relievable” refers to our best estimates of contributions which are within the individual’s pensions Annual Allowance). </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">ii) Marginal rate tax relief is applied to these estimates of “relievable” contributions as if these contributions were taxed. Estimates are produced assuming all members contributing to all pension schemes receive full marginal rate tax relief on their contributions.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><em> </em></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As noted in the publication, costs are subject to large revisions and have a particularly wide margin of error – reflecting the variety of sources of data (both administrative and survey) required to produce these estimates.</ins></p> answering member printed The Earl of Courtown question first answered 09/09/2019 16:33:08 question first ministerially corrected 08/10/2019 12:38:27 answering member 3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown previous answer version 135351 answering member printed The Earl of Courtown answering member 3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1144063

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Taxation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that employers use at least half of their apprenticeship levy spend on new starters.
tabling member printed	Lord Allen of Kensington
uin	HL17551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The apprenticeship programme is employer-led. The department’s reforms have put employers in the driving seat, supporting them to design the high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. It is also for employers to decide which apprenticeships they offer, when, and to whom.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Apprenticeships provide valuable opportunities for people of all ages. While the department has no current plans to restrict the use of employer’s levy funds, all aspects of the programme will be kept under review in response to employer feedback and as preparations for a comprehensive Spending Review next year continue.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/09/2019 16:52:41 question first ministerially corrected 04/10/2019 11:10:59 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton previous answer version 135182 answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4304 label Biography information for Lord Allen of Kensington

1144064

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Taxation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that employers use at least half of their apprenticeship levy spend on apprentices who are under 30 years of age.
tabling member printed	Lord Allen of Kensington
uin	HL17552
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The apprenticeship programme is employer-led. The department’s reforms have put employers in the driving seat, supporting them to design the high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet their skills needs. It is also for employers to decide which apprenticeships they offer, when, and to whom.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Apprenticeships provide valuable opportunities for people of all ages. While the department has no current plans to restrict the use of employer’s levy funds, all aspects of the programme will be kept under review in response to employer feedback and as preparations for a comprehensive Spending Review next year continue.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/09/2019 16:52:41 question first ministerially corrected 04/10/2019 11:10:45 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton previous answer version 135660 answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4304 label Biography information for Lord Allen of Kensington

1144074

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Iraq: Yazidis
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received the information sent to them by Lord Alton of Liverpool concerning allegations made by the Clarion Project, that young Yazidi girls kidnapped and enslaved by ISIS in Iraq, and now held in Iran, have been put up for sale; and what action they are taking to (1) highlight that issue, and (2) seek the rescue of these girls.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL17562
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have received the letter that you sent regarding the allegations made by Clarion Project, and will be responding shortly. We remain deeply concerned by the situation faced by Yazidi women who were abducted and enslaved by Daesh in Iraq and Syria. The UN calculates that up to 3,000 Yazidi women are still missing, mostly in Iraq. The UK continues to support efforts to reunite families with their loved ones. I discussed the need for justice and support for Yazidi women and other victims of Daesh's crimes with Iraqi Foreign Minister, Mohamed Al-Hakim, on 25 June.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 09/09/2019 16:28:15 question first ministerially corrected 07/10/2019 11:19:51 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon previous answer version 133922 answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1144079

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: EU Nationals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many looked-after children are non-UK EU nationals.
tabling member printed	Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top
uin	HL17567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The department does not hold information on the nationality of looked-after children in England. However, estimates suggest that there may be around 5,000 children in care who are non-UK EU nationals.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">We recognise that looked-after children who are non-UK EU nationals will require support with immigration issues. It is important that local authorities offer the necessary support by addressing these issues early as part of any assessment and care plan. In doing so, local authorities can seek legal advice about the appropriate action based on the circumstances of the individual looked-after child.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Legislation will also be introduced to bring immigration matters for separated migrant children into the scope of legal aid, meaning that this group will get support in securing their immigration rights. Legal aid may also be available through the Exceptional Case Funding scheme where a failure to provide legal aid would breach, or risk breaching, European Court of Human Rights law rights or enforceable EU law rights.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Ensuring that looked-after children are supported to obtain a status under the European Union Settlement Scheme is a core element in the delivery of the scheme.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Local authorities are expected to make applications on behalf of all eligible looked-after children for whom they have parental responsibility and to raise awareness of the scheme and offer support as required for looked-after children for whom they do not hold parental responsibility.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Guidance has been issued to local authorities to help them with these responsibilities.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/09/2019 16:36:15 question first ministerially corrected 07/10/2019 15:46:41 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton previous answer version 134784 answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4150 label Biography information for Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top

1144080

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: EU Nationals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support local authorities give to looked-after children who are non-UK EU nationals to apply for (1) residency, (2) citizenship, and (3) settled status.
tabling member printed	Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top
uin	HL17568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The department does not hold information on the nationality of looked-after children in England. However, estimates suggest that there may be around 5,000 children in care who are non-UK EU nationals.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">We recognise that looked-after children who are non-UK EU nationals will require support with immigration issues. It is important that local authorities offer the necessary support by addressing these issues early as part of any assessment and care plan. In doing so, local authorities can seek legal advice about the appropriate action based on the circumstances of the individual looked-after child.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Legislation will also be introduced to bring immigration matters for separated migrant children into the scope of legal aid, meaning that this group will get support in securing their immigration rights. Legal aid may also be available through the Exceptional Case Funding scheme where a failure to provide legal aid would breach, or risk breaching, European Court of Human Rights law rights or enforceable EU law rights.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Ensuring that looked-after children are supported to obtain a status under the European Union Settlement Scheme is a core element in the delivery of the scheme.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Local authorities are expected to make applications on behalf of all eligible looked-after children for whom they have parental responsibility and to raise awareness of the scheme and offer support as required for looked-after children for whom they do not hold parental responsibility.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Guidance has been issued to local authorities to help them with these responsibilities.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/09/2019 16:36:15 question first ministerially corrected 07/10/2019 15:46:59 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton previous answer version 135439 answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4150 label Biography information for Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top

1144083

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Private Rented Housing: Social Security Benefits
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken research on the equalities impact of potential discrimination by lettings agents which exclusively prevents applications for private lettings from people who are in receipt of benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
tabling member printed	Lord Bassam of Brighton
uin	HL17571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not undertaken research into this issue. We are however clear that landlords and agents should look at all potential and existing tenants claiming housing benefit on an individual basis, regardless of whether or not they are in receipt of benefits. The How to Let and How to Rent guides help landlords, agents and tenants understand their rights and responsibilities.</p><p> </p><p>Any tenant or prospective tenant who believes they may have been unlawfully discriminated against should contact the Equality Advisory Support Service on 0808 800 0082 (text phone 0808 800 0084).</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 02/10/2019 10:11:09 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	3504 label Biography information for Lord Bassam of Brighton

1144085

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Immigration: Fees and Charges
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how the costs of an application (1) for limited leave to remain, and (2) to extend limited leave to remain, are calculated; by how much the costs of such applications have increased in percentage terms since 2015; and why those costs have increased.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL17573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>The unit costs of immigration and nationality fees are the calculated estimate of the full financial cost for providing each route/service, including direct costs and relevant local and central overheads (e.g. accommodation, HR, Finance and IT), plus depreciation, cost of capital employed, and other wider system costs that are incurred in connection with immigration and nationality activity.</p><p>The approach the Home Office uses to calculate the published unit costs for all UK visa, immigration and citizenship services takes into account the entire forecast cost of the relevant chargeable functions, including all related indirect costs. Weightings are then used, based on operational business planning data, to apportion the total cost across the range of services and products.</p><p>Unit costs may be influenced by changes in the way that applications in certain routes are processed from year to year, for example where additional checks are introduced or required, or by changes elsewhere within the overall system which impact on the weighting calculations and therefore the amount apportioned to any individual service.</p><p>With regard to percentage increases, the Home Office publishes a complete list of fees and unit costs for all application types. This can be viewed via the following link:</p><p>www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-fees-transparency-data</p><p>Additionally, the link below sets out all the fees that have been in operation since 2015.</p><p>www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table<br> <br>When setting fees, the Home Office takes into account the cost of processing the application, the wider cost of running Border, Immigration and Citizenship (BIC) system and the benefits the Home Office believes are likely to accrue from a successful application.</p><p>Application fees have increased in recent years as the Home Office aims to reduce the overall level of funding that comes from general taxation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 08/10/2019 11:12:28 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1144086

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any estimated overspend of council funding special needs education; and what steps they are taking to provide financial support to protect the service.
tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
uin	HL17574
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">We have asked local authorities with a cumulative deficit on their Dedicated Schools Grant of more than 1% to submit recovery plans to the department. We are now reviewing those plans and will be discussing these with local authorities in due course.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">For 2020-21, we have announced more than £700 million of additional high needs funding, which funds children with more complex special educational needs. This represents an increase of 11% compared to 2019-20, leading to a total of over £7 billion. Every local authority will receive a minimum increase of 8% per head of population aged 2-18. We will provide local authorities with provisional allocations in October. This will help local authorities to manage the pressures that they will face next year.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/09/2019 16:52:51 question first ministerially corrected 07/10/2019 15:47:18 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton previous answer version 134559 answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

1144090

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Libraries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the call by the Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell, for there to be a statutory requirement for each school to provide a library.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL17578
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In August 2019, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a £14 billion increase in investment for schools across England over the next three years. The department welcomes the Children’s Laureate’s commitment to these issues and publication of her ‘reading rights’, which aligns with the government’s commitment to raising literacy standards.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">The National Curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils develop the habit of reading widely and often, becoming independent, fluent and enthusiastic readers who read for pleasure and for information. Reading aloud is a part of this, and teachers are encouraged to read poetry, stories and non-fiction to younger pupils, as well as longer books to older pupils. The National Curriculum also contains guidance for teachers setting out that pupils should have opportunities to exercise choice in selecting books.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">It is for individual schools to decide whether to provide and maintain a library service for their pupils. Many head teachers recognise the important role school libraries play in improving literacy and encouraging pupils to read for pleasure and ensure that suitable library facilities are provided.</ins></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/09/2019 16:33:00 question first ministerially corrected 07/10/2019 16:17:26 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton previous answer version 135409 answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird